Chapter 34: Chapter 34 (Two Chapters Combined)

Chapter 34: Two Chapters Combined

The Prince of Qing's estate was naturally generous, presenting them with a bolt of high-quality satin, a bolt of premium silk, a set of the finest Scholar's Four Treasures, two sets of clothing, and a pair of gold ingots.

She Niang cut three feet of the satin for Li Niang and three feet of the silk for Yu Shi, then distributed the Xuelang paper from the Four Treasures to her father and brother.

The rest she had Dong Mei put away; her personal savings were quite substantial now. This was only natural, as the early family division had left the sixth branch with a larger share, and Yu Shi's dowry had not been squandered, bringing in a considerable yearly income.

Moreover, Pei Yiqing had been promoted, and his salary and regular stipends were substantial, so the sixth branch was now quite comfortable.

Seeing She Niang's actions, Yu Shi couldn't help but say, "You're just a child; what's given to you is yours. Why distribute it among us?"

"Mother, that's not the way to see it. We're all family; there's no need to distinguish between yours and mine," She Niang said with a smile.

Pei Yiqing, standing nearby, added, "Being a study companion is no easy task. If you encounter good people, it might be fine, but if not, your temperament won't tolerate mistreatment. Why not go for now and after some time plead illness? That way, you won’t offend the Prince of Qing's estate."

She Niang had to admire her father—truly a seasoned official, full of clever ideas. She nodded immediately. "Let's do as Father says."

Yu Shi, rubbing her belly, said, "While you're staying at the prince's estate, mind your words. We don’t seek anything from them; just focus on accompanying Princess Jiangdu in her studies and don’t involve yourself in other matters."

"Yes," She Niang replied.

Parents who truly care for their children hope their daughters marry into families of equal status, preferably close by so they can keep an eye on them. They don’t seek exceedingly prominent status for the match, but rather capability and genuine care for their daughter.

Thus, regarding She Niang's stay at the Prince of Qing's estate, their greater concern was that she might be mistreated, not the honor of it all.

A few days later, the Princess of Qing sent someone to fetch She Niang. She brought some clothing, jewelry, books she often read, a pouch of silver coins, and brought along Dong Mei and Lan Ruo to assist her.

As for the household, she left it in Li Niang's hands, instructing, "Mother will give birth in a few months; take good care of her."

Li Niang pursed her lips. "Understood. I’ll keep the household running smoothly."

She Niang also hoped Li Niang would stand on her own. In her previous life, Li Niang had her, her sister the empress, to rely on, but this life, that likely wouldn’t be the case—she would have to depend on herself.

When she arrived at the Prince of Qing's estate, a nanny escorted her to pay respects to the Dowager Consort, who was watching an opera performance. Afterwards, she went to see the Princess of Qing.

The Princess of Qing had only glimpsed She Niang briefly before, but upon a closer look today, she thought to herself what striking beauty she possessed—almost dignified bearing, tall with bright, intelligent eyes that sparkled with wisdom, clearly a very clever girl.

This time, the princess appeared quite friendly. "Don’t worry; your accommodations have already been arranged. I’ve assigned two maids to attend to you. If you need anything, just let them know."

"I am truly grateful for your kindness, Your Highness," She Niang said.

The Princess of Qing placed her teacup down and looked at her. "I heard you are well-educated, so I thought to invite you here to accompany the princess in her studies. She can be quite playful; do guide her gently."

In response to such remarks, it was best not to bluntly agree that the princess was mischievous and promise to guide her. Instead, She Niang said, "Your Highness, you flatter me. Though I may not be the quickest, seeing how organized and proper your conduct is—noble yet without any airs—as the saying goes, 'like mother, like daughter.' The princess must be extraordinary."

"Well, she has her talents, but she is playful," the Princess of Qing said with a smile.

She Niang promptly nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

Like all parents under heaven, the Princess of Qing believed her child was the best. She Niang made some more pleasant conversation, and the princess grew even more delighted—whatever she said, She Niang never let the conversation falter. Yet she didn’t ramble on; when the princess spoke, she listened attentively.

Unlike those phony, affected girls, she was young but far from inexperienced.

After their conversation ended, She Niang specifically prepared a cup of tea for her. The Princess of Qing had her trusted nanny escort She Niang to her quarters.

She had expected to be given a few rooms at best, but to her surprise, she was given an entire courtyard with a lovely name: Pluck-Blossoms Courtyard.

"Miss Pei, I’ll leave you here," said Nanny Gong.

She Niang quickly replied, "Thank you, Nanny. You’ve taken the trouble. Dong Mei, a reward."

Dong Mei hurried forward and handed a pouch to Nanny Gong, who politely declined. She Niang smiled. "I know you are a trusted aide of the princess. Someone of your stature is usually hard for us to meet, yet today you troubled yourself to guide me. I have little to offer, but this pouch is embroidered by my own hand, with some money inside—please buy a drink to cool you down."

Dong Mei and Lan Ruo, who were used to seeing Fourth Miss as the eloquent one and Fifth Miss as straightforward, were surprised to see how well She Niang could speak when she wished—it was a matter of choice, not ability.

Nanny Gong left quite satisfied, saying the residence’s maids would arrive shortly.

She Niang first took her two maids to explore. Lan Ruo exclaimed, "I never thought the residence would assign us a whole courtyard! Miss has never had a courtyard to herself before."

"Indeed, I’m also surprised. But I suppose a princely residence must maintain appearances—this is likely their way of showing respect to educated people," She Niang remarked, equally pleased.

The main hall of Pluck-Blossoms Courtyard was a large reception area, likely for entertaining guests. The west side served as the bedroom, the east as the study. Three rooms on the west wing had been combined into a dining area, while the east wing housed a bathing room and two additional rooms with beds, probably for guests.

She Niang eagerly entered the bedroom. The main hall and bedroom were separated by a room divider with an intricate design. Inside stood a long table, a curio shelf, a five-legged round incense stand, and a carved floral screen, all made of *huanghuali* wood, matching the room divider. Only the innermost bed was a black lacquer canopy bed with mother-of-pearl inlay depicting butterflies and flowers.

She had to admit—wealth truly had its perks. The furniture alone was captivating.

But whether temporary or not, she would enjoy it while she could. She sat down and instructed Dong Mei and Lan Ruo, "First, organize my belongings. Although the residence has sent maids, we shouldn’t over rely on them for work."

Naturally, along with the two maids, there were also some rough labor matrons assigned.

She Niang first asked the two maids, "Where did you previously serve?"

These two maids were no ordinary servants—one had served the Prince of Qing's heir, the other attended the Princess of Qing herself. Though not senior maids, they were both third-rank attendants.

This time, She Niang didn’t immediately offer rewards but first asked them, "We’re newcomers and fear breaching etiquette. How does the residence handle rewards? I’d hate to cause embarrassment, or worse, have people say the study companions invited by the residence are ill-mannered."

The maid who had served the heir, named Coral, had originally been assigned by the old lady to wait on the young master. But when the heir left for the capital a year later, she was left guarding empty rooms. Now, with Miss Pei’s arrival, she was reassigned here.

Quick-witted and eager to impress, she said, "Whatever miss rewards is up to her, but while we are content, the matrons below may be harder to satisfy."

The other maid, Fu Rong, who served the Princess of Qing, didn’t contradict her.

"What were the previous customs for rewards?" She Niang asked them directly, skipping pleasantries.

Coral, seeing she’d gotten to the heart of the matter, obediently replied, "Matrons usually receive between twenty to eighty coins. Senior maids might get food, clothing, or money—ranging from a few dozen *wen* to one *qian*."

She Niang turned to Dong Mei. "Reward Coral and Ling Long each with two *qian*. For the four rough labor matrons, eighty *wen* each."

It was well-known that servants everywhere led hard, impoverished lives. Though She Niang’s family wasn’t extravagantly wealthy, as a young lady she had her own savings. Before leaving for the residence, Yu Shi had given her twenty taels of silver.

After receiving their rewards, both Coral and Fu Rong felt closer to She Niang.

She Niang also introduced her maids to them, and they all exchanged greetings.

It was then that the previously quiet Fu Rong spoke up. "Miss Pei, this evening, the princess has invited you and Miss Yang to dine. Perhaps I could help you freshen up first before we head over."

"Excellent. You can also tell me more about the residence’s customs—I’d hate to breach etiquette," She Niang said with a smile.

Fu Rong quickly agreed.

The rough labor matrons, having received their rewards, had no complaints and soon brought hot water. After bathing and changing into the new clothes provided by the residence, She Niang had a basic understanding of the Prince of Qing's estate.

The old Prince of Qing's first wife had two sons: the eldest was enfeoffed in Kaifeng, Henan, the second died young. A concubine bore the third and fourth sons, both titled Dukes of Fuguo. The third son was stripped of his title due to issues with the Qiantang River embankment project. The current Prince of Qing was the fifth son and now headed the main line of the family.

The Princess of Qing (née Wang) was the daughter of the former Grand General and Left Chief Military Commissioner. The Prince of Qing originally had an eldest son, born from a concubine, who passed away at fifteen, just after marrying. Princess Wang gave birth to a second son, who was to be designated as heir at six but unfortunately died young. The current heir, Li Ju, is actually the third son of the Prince of Qing and his only legitimate son.

After giving birth to Li Ju, Princess Wang also had a daughter, Princess Jiangdu.

Li Ju is slightly younger but was selected early to serve as a Study Companion to the Imperial Grandson in the palace. With only her daughter by her side, the Princess of Qing treasures her deeply.

"Will we get to see Princess Jiangdu later?" She Niang asked.

Both Coral and Fu Rong nodded. "Yes."

She Niang said, "I just hope the Princess doesn’t dislike me. Well, never mind—Miss Yang is here too."

In this world, those who serve their masters always hope for their success, because if the master prospers, the servants may also benefit. Especially with a generous mistress like She Niang, the servants all hoped she would thrive so they could share in her good fortune.

But no one would say it aloud now; after all, it was their first meeting, and deep conversations were premature. What they could discuss were only well-known matters.

Although the Princess of Qing received them in one place in the morning, the evening meal was not held in the same courtyard but at the Dowager Consort’s residence. It was said the Dowager Consort found it too quiet, so she gathered her granddaughters for dinner. Of course, it wasn’t just Princess Jiangdu; also present were the daughter of the disgraced Third Master, the former Duke of Fuguo—who, due to her father’s loss of title, held no rank and was vaguely referred to as Second Miss—and the daughter of the Fourth Master, the Duke of Fuguo, known as Lady Ronghe.

Second Miss was said to be born of a concubine, around coming-of-age, neither too plump nor too thin, dressed in a light-colored jacket and skirt, appearing very gentle. Lady Ronghe, however, wore a rose-red sleeveless jacket with a gold phoenix hairpin, radiating energy as she chatted animatedly with Princess Jiangdu.

When She Niang and the others entered, Lady Ronghe stood up and addressed the Princess of Qing: "Aunt, are these the two young ladies who have come to study at our manor?"

The Princess of Qing smiled. "Yes." She then introduced Yang Zhi and She Niang: "This is the granddaughter of Provincial Governor Yang, and this is the daughter of Marshal Pei."

Lady Ronghe, upon seeing Yang Zhi, smiled and said, "I heard you and your sister are twins, is that right?"

The topic was light-hearted, and Yang Zhi shared some stories about the uncanny connection she shared with her sister, eliciting exclamations of amazement from everyone. She Niang also thought Yang Zhi was sweet through and through—her voice was sweet, her face always lit with a smile, and her personality was very endearing.

When it was She Niang’s turn, Lady Ronghe skillfully found a topic: "Sister Pei, now that you’re here, please settle in comfortably. The chrysanthemums in our garden are in full bloom now; we can all enjoy the flowers and have tea together. I love lively gatherings, so you must join us then."

She Niang quickly replied, "Your kindness is too great, Lady Ronghe. Lang Huan would be honored."

After the pleasantries, She Niang and Yang Zhi stepped forward to greet Princess Jiangdu, Li Bao Ying. Li Bao Ying, just ten years old and having recently started growing her hair, looked fair and adorable like jade. She gave a faint greeting before clinging to the Dowager Consort.

Yang Zhi felt somewhat uncomfortable; after all, as the granddaughter of a Provincial Governor, she was pampered and had never been ignored like this. She Niang, however, remained composed. They did not all eat at the same table: the Dowager Consort dined with her granddaughters, while the Princess of Qing sat with Yang Zhi and She Niang.

In such settings, it was rare for anyone to eat their fill. She Niang only took a few small bites, avoiding bony chicken or fish for fear of making noise, and skipping beans to avoid gas. She opted for soft, quiet foods like taro.

The meal proceeded almost in silence. After eating and rinsing their mouths, She Niang and Yang Zhi stayed to listen to the conversation before returning to their respective courtyards. Since their courtyards were adjacent and both were Study Companions, She Niang suggested, "Shall we walk back together?"

Yang Zhi smiled brightly. "Sure."

Along the way, they tentatively conversed. Yang Zhi was somewhat shy, and She Niang had no desire to pry, so they walked quietly until parting ways at their courtyards.

Back in her room, still hungry, She Niang took out some pastries she had brought from home and ate five or six until she was full. She then arranged for Dong Mei and Fu Rong to keep watch overnight before blowing out the lamp and going to sleep.

Unbeknownst to her, Yu Shi and Pei Yiqing were for the first time unable to sleep. Yu Shi worried: "She Niang isn’t picky, but you know her temperament—she can’t stand being slighted, yet now she has to defer to others. And she wanted us to take her to the hot springs for a bath; we just found a spot, and now she’s not here."

"Don’t worry. We can pretend to be ill later. Actually, this might not be a bad thing. I think our She Niang is extraordinary and can handle it." Though Pei Yiqing was also concerned, he tried to comfort his wife.

Yu Shi shook her head. "I only gave her twenty taels of silver. I wanted to give more, but she said she had her own savings and refused. Ah, at home, she handled everything so well and contributed so much to our family. With her gone, I feel quite lost."

Pei Yiqing sighed. "Yes, She Niang at home was like an anchor. And now I have to go to the front to deliver military supplies, so I can’t always be with you."

"Deliver military supplies? Why you?" Yu Shi, her belly growing larger, grew more anxious.

Pei Yiqing said, "Well, the court recently dispatched officers. It’s no one else but the husband of our eldest niece—the second son of the Marquis of Xinan."

"Him? Why didn’t his elder brother come instead?" Yu Shi was puzzled.

Xiao Tang had an elder brother who was the heir to the Marquis of Xinan.

Pei Yiqing thought for a moment. "Probably because 'the valued son does not stand under dangerous walls.' The heir already has a title; why exert himself? But Xiao Tang, what will he have after the family divides? Better to strive for achievements now, perhaps earn a military appointment—better than being a commoner."

"That makes sense," Yu Shi nodded.

Pei Yiqing had further plans: next year, when their eldest daughter married, he would have their son escort her and stay in the capital for the exams—it was easier to pass there than in Hangzhou. But he kept this from Yu Shi for now, lest she feel even more adrift.

Some people thrive on company and feel insecure without it; Yu Shi was one such person.

She Niang assumed her parents would miss her, but not excessively, as her older brother and sister were still at home.

She rose early each day, starting with playing jianzi a hundred times, then washing up and changing clothes.

Coral brought breakfast—substantial fare from the manor: stewed goose with pickles, stir-fried pork with yellow vegetables, steamed pig trotters and tripe, twice-cooked fried fresh fish, blanched shrimp, and stir-fried chicken slices, served with fragrant rice and bean porridge.

She Niang drank half a bowl of porridge and ate half a bowl of rice, with just a small plate of side dishes. After a cup of tea, she felt quite full.

The place where the Princess studied was called Liao Ran Studio, surrounded by water on three sides with bamboo groves behind. It was not only tranquil and pleasant but also full of artistic charm.

The desks were already prepared, better than those at the Pei family’s girls' school. A long table held a brush holder, a high-quality Duan inkstone, and paper as white as snow.

The study was adorned with famous paintings and calligraphy, along with seasonal flowers.

As she looked around, Yang Zhi arrived. Seeing She Niang, Yang Zhi smiled slightly and asked softly, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Very well. And you?" She Niang noticed Yang Zhi looked pale, guessing she hadn’t slept well. After all, Yang Zhi was different—She Niang was an adult, accustomed to adapting quickly to new places, feeling only curiosity and a bit of nostalgia.

But for a young girl, leaving home was challenging, especially staying in someone else’s house with different rules and etiquette.

Yang Zhi shook her head. "I have trouble sleeping in new places, so I didn’t rest well."

"You’ll get used to it in a few days. If you’re free, come to my room to chat. It might help you relax and fall asleep easier," She Niang suggested with a smile.

Yang Zhi immediately agreed.

They each sat at their desks and waited a while before the Princess arrived leisurely. She Niang and the others bowed first, only sitting when the Princess permitted.

Having been accustomed to receiving bows, now having to bow to others felt stifling.

Uncertain of the Princess’s temperament, She Niang dared not speak casually. The tutor was an old man with a goat beard, though no one introduced him.

Today, he taught from "Chu Ci," which She Niang had already studied. Reviewing it now was like warming up old lessons.

The tutor with a goat beard was quite talented, even reciting in the Chu-style rooster-crow dialect. But the Princess seemed inattentive, either playing with her brush or dozing off, which the tutor ignored.

However, while the Princess could afford not to listen, the Study Companions could not.

...

Nanny Gong remarked, "It seems both Miss Yang and Miss Pei are somewhat hesitant to speak with the Princess."

"No matter. Young ladies care about face. As long as they study diligently, our Bao Ying will benefit from their positive influence," said the Princess of Qing. She had heard her husband’s plans to marry their daughter into a scholarly family, so more learning was essential.

Although there was a saying that "a woman without talent is virtuous," that was the talk of the ignorant.

Just as she herself came from a military family and could barely read, even though she was a natural at managing the household, it was still a regret. Therefore, she made sure to educate all her children. Ju'er was naturally intelligent, diligent, and a quick study—a rare studious talent among the royal family—so she didn’t need to worry much about him.

But her daughter was another story.

...

The lesson on the *Songs of Chu* lasted two hours. In the afternoon, the tutor focused on writing poetry. She Niang quickly finished her assigned task and began flipping through some books nearby.

In the past, she would have eagerly submitted her poem first, but now she was cautious not to show anyone up.

Unexpectedly, the tutor came down from the lectern, took She Niang’s poem to review, nodded approvingly, and circled a section with his brush: "Here, you adapted the allusion from Lu Zhaolin’s 'Lotus in the Crooked Pond'—'round shadows cover the splendid pool.'"

She Niang looked and realized it was indeed the case. She glanced at the bearded tutor, who gave her a slight nod.

The tutor seemed unremarkable but actually knew his stuff. Previously, her poetry had been nothing more than a lavish pile of ornate phrases. She decided to take advantage of her time at the princely estate to master poetry thoroughly, setting it as a personal goal. As for whether the princess studied or not, she didn’t concern herself—if even her own parents couldn’t manage it, there was no point in an outsider risking offense.

Sometimes, it’s best not to be overly responsible; after all, everyone can manage without anyone else.

But clearly, Yang Zhi didn’t share this view. She thought the princess truly disliked studying and saw it as an opportunity to chat with her, impart some wisdom, and perhaps persuade her. If she could win the princess over and gain her trust, the Dowager Consort and the princess consort would surely think more highly of her.